Watford

Watford's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 90,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Watford increased by 13%, from about 79,700 to 90,300.

The addition of almost 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Watford was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Watford

Latest census data also show that the median age of Watford remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This suburban area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 15% of people in Watford are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Watford that rented privately increased from 9.7% to 20% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 16%, while the percentage of Watford households that owned their home decreased from 72% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Watford increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Watford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Watford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Watford remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

Watford saw Eastof England's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households in Watford had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 60% to 58%.

Across the region, only St Albans (from 31% to 33%) and Thurrock (from 32% to 35%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with children.

During this period, Watford overtook 13 local authority areas, including Harlow and East Hertfordshire, to become the Eastof England local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Watford

The proportion of married people fell in Watford, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except Welwyn Hatfield and Fenland.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54% to 50%.

During this period, Watford fell below Harlow, Welwyn Hatfield and Ipswich to become the Eastof England local authority area with the seventh-lowest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Watford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 23% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Watford.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Watford that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 53,000 in 2001 to just under 49,000 in 2011 (from 66% to 54%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 4,900 to just over 8,900 (from 6.1% to 9.9%).

Just under 6,100 people (7.3%) did not state their religion, up from just over 5,800 in 2001 (6.7%).

The population without a religion in Watford increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Watford

The percentage of Watford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.4% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.2%, while the percentage of Watford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Watford

In 2011, 72% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 86% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Watford.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Watford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 7,000 in 2001 to just over 16,000 in 2011 (from 8.8% to 18%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 2,100 to about 5,200 (from 2.7% to 5.8%).

About 3,100 people (2.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 1,700 in 2001 (3.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Watford decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Watford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.9% to 4.1% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Watford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Watford decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Watford, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Watford, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.4% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (33%) households had a married couple, compared with 36% in 2001. The percentage of households in Watford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, decreased from 11% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Watford increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Watford, Eastof England and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Watford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 61% in 2001. The percentage of Watford residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Watford increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Watford, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Watford working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 2.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Watford increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Watford, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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